Movember

Today marks the end of Movember, a worldwide celebration of the moustache that aims to raise awareness for health issues that primarily plague men like prostate and testicular cancer. Like most causes, this is a great one (Does anyone ever say, this is a bad cause?). I mean, am I the only one fearful of the day that I have to endure a proctate exam?

Unfortunately my moustache only grows in faintly. It's there, but it's just not at all noticeable. Luckily, I know some people that have a little more going on under the nose and above the lips. So in honor of Movember, here they are:


Matty K




Jimmy Jam




Jess




Pete




Of course, a post about moustaches would not be complete without mentioning former Toronto Bluejays/Syracuse Chiefs great Sal Fasano.



Sal spent his entire big league career as a journeyman backup catcher and left an indellible mark wherever he went. He wasn't much of a hitter, but he worked well with pitchers and was a great guy to have in the clubhouse. In fact, Sal worked so well with pitchers that former closer Tom "Flash" Gordon once said, "There's nobody I'd rather throw to than Sal Fasano."

A few years ago Sal was thinking about retiring, but his third child was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (the left side of his heart didn't fully develop) and the medical bills were not cheap. Although his body was quickly deteriorating, he continued playing baseball in order to provide for his family.

"It's often hard to get out of bed ... hard to want to go to the field....My wife is home with the kids, serving as a mother and a father. You can't help but question your sanity. You're driven by one thing -- hope."

He signed a minor league contract with the Bluejays in 2007 knowing that he would need to get called up at some point during the season in order to qualify for the Major League health insurance plan. He spent much of the season in the city of hopes and dreams playing for the Chiefs, but did get called up to play in 16 games for the Jays that year. Sal then rolled the dice again in 2008, this time with the Cleveland Indians, and was fortunate enough to play in 15 games that year for the Tribe.

"We need the coverage. Playing major league baseball is awesome. I love it, I enjoy it. But this is about my family first. About Santo (his son)."

This past season Sal signed a minor league contract with Colorado Rockies, but was never called up to the big leagues. This unfortunately meant that he and his family were stuck with the Minor League health insurance plan, which isn't terrible, but it doesn't cover all of the procedures that may be necessary for his son.

Knowing that his chances of ever making it back to the show were bleak, Sal officially retired and last week was named the manager of the Toronto Bluejays' Single A affiliate: the Lansing Lugnuts (I couldn't make that up if I tried).

Surely, based on his track record of working with pitchers at every level Sal will make a phenomenal manager (most former catchers are). I'd love it if he burst onto the scene like Joe Girardi, but that's probably a bit too much to ask. I'm just happy that the future stars of my favorite baseball franchise will be taught by such a great person.

"When I think of Sal Fasano, I think of greatness. Not of Willie Mays or Ted Williams greatness, but of a uniquely excellent human being who, were class and decency the most valued standards of a career, would be the easiest Hall of Fame inductee of all time." - ESPN.Com's Jeff Pearlman